Work to refurbish the gym floors at Burks Elementary and Capshaw Elementary has been completed.
The Putnam County School System spent some $93,000 on both resurfacing, and some $71,700 of that money went to the Burks Elementary gym. Deputy Director of Schools Tim Martin said the price difference was rooted in the two gyms’ size differences.
“If you go back in history, you’ll see Burks was built as a middle school, and it has a lot bigger gym and gym floor,” Martin said. “The playing surface is the same, but when we do a resurface like this, we refinish the entire surface of the floor.”
Martin said every gym floor in the Putnam County Schools is refurbished once every 10 years. Martin said the gyms that do not get refurbished still get a new clear coat each year until they are due.
“The clear coats kind of build up on you after awhile,” Martin said. “It’s hard to get that sticky surface that the ball players like to get where they, you know, get the grip on their shoes that they want.”
In addition, Martin said clear coats begin to yellow over the years. Refurbishing addresses that issue too.
Martin said the refurbishing process begins by sanding off the clear coats, lines, and logos, repainting them, and applying a new clear coat. Martin said refurbishing the floors essentially creates a new surface.
Martin said after the refurbishing job is complete, the floors are inspected for any gaps in the clear coat and correct-looking logos. Martin said he has not yet seen the floor at Capshaw.
That being said, Martin said the wood surfaces at both gyms are in good shape.
“That 10 year refinish, we can do that three or four times before we have to look at replacing the wood,” Martin said.
